Systems and methods for acquiring data from articles of merchandise on display

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to systems, devices, and methods for displaying and securing articles of merchandise. In one example, a merchandise security system includes a plurality of security devices. Each of the security devices is configured to be attached to an article of merchandise and includes an illumination source for generating a light signal. The system also includes at least one computing device configured to communicate with the illumination sources in order to obtain data from the security devices and/or the articles of merchandise. Each of the security devices is configured to configured to generate a security signal in response to removal of the article of merchandise from the security device.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional ApplicationNo. 62/418,875, filed Nov. 8, 2016, the entirety of which is hereinincorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to merchandisedisplay systems and methods, in particular, to systems and methods foracquiring data from articles of merchandise on display.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Retailers routinely display articles of merchandise, such as phones,portable computers (e.g. notebooks, laptops, tablets, etc.), e-readers,media players, and the like for customers to evaluate before making apurchase. These articles of merchandise are continually being madesmaller and lighter in weight due to advances in technology andmaterials. As a result, such merchandise is increasingly vulnerable andsusceptible to theft. At the same time, the retail price and profitmargin for such merchandise continues to decline. Accordingly, thesearticles of merchandise need to be secured by a security device thateffectively and cost efficiently protects the merchandise from theft.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present invention are directed towards merchandisesecurity systems and methods. In one example, a merchandise securitydevice includes a plurality of security devices. Each of the securitydevices is configured to be attached to an article of merchandise, andeach of the security devices comprising an illumination source forgenerating a light signal. The merchandise security device also includesat least one computing device configured to communicate with theillumination sources in order to obtain data from the security devicesand/or the articles of merchandise, wherein each of the security devicesis configured to configured to generate a security signal in response toremoval of the article of merchandise from the security device.

In another embodiment, a method for displaying and securing articles ofmerchandise is provided. The method includes generating a light signalwith an illumination source associated with a security device and/or anarticle of merchandise, and detecting the light signal with a computingdevice. The method further includes obtaining data from the securitydevice and/or the article of merchandise based on the light signal, andgenerating a security signal in response to removal of the article ofmerchandise from the security device.

In another embodiment, a merchandise security system is provided andincludes at least one security device configured to be attached to anarticle of merchandise. The merchandise security system also includes anillumination source associated with the security device and/or thearticle of merchandise, wherein the illumination source is configured togenerate a light signal. In addition, the merchandise security systemincludes at least one computing device configured to communicate withthe illumination source in order to obtain data from the security deviceand/or the article of merchandise, wherein the security device isconfigured to generate a security signal in response to removal of thearticle of merchandise from the security device.

In one embodiment, a merchandise security system includes at least onesecurity device configured to be attached to an article of merchandise,wherein the at least one security device and/or the article ofmerchandise is configured to capture an image obtaining data foridentifying the article of merchandise. The merchandise security systemalso includes at least one computing device configured to communicatewith the at least one security device and/or the article of merchandisein order to obtain the data from the security device and/or the articleof merchandise.

In another embodiment, a merchandise security system includes at leastone security device configured to be attached to an article ofmerchandise, wherein the at least one security device and/or the articleof merchandise is configured to capture an image obtaining data foridentifying the article of merchandise. The merchandise security systemalso includes at least one computing device configured to communicatewith the at least one security device and/or the article of merchandisein order to obtain the data from the security device and/or the articleof merchandise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a merchandise security system according to oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic of a merchandise security system according toanother embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described more fullyhereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in whichvarious embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may,however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construedas limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, theseembodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough andcomplete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to thoseskilled in the art Like numbers refer to like elements throughout, andprime notation and multiple prime notations are used to indicate similarelements in alternative embodiments.

One or more embodiments of a system for displaying and securing anarticle of merchandise “M” are described below and shown. The article ofmerchandise M is typically a display model or an operational sample ofelectronic merchandise, such as portable telephones, smart phones,computers (e.g. notebooks, laptops, tablets, etc.), e-readers, mediaplayers, and the like, for a customer to examine before making adecision to purchase the item. Thus, the article of merchandise may beany type of portable electronic device. The article of merchandise M istypically displayed in a manner that permits a prospective purchaser toevaluate the operation and features of the merchandise, while protectingthe merchandise from a potential thief. In one embodiment, a sensor maybe attached to the article of merchandise for detecting various alarmingconditions, such as the article being removed from the sensor.

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a merchandise security system 10 forsecuring articles of merchandise M from theft or unauthorized removal.The system 10 generally includes one or more display positions, whereineach display position includes a security device 40 that is supported ona display counter “DC” (e.g., a counter, shelf, support, or the like). Asecurity device 40 may generally include a sensor 12, a tether 14, and abase 16, although other arrangements may be contemplated (e.g., omittingthe tether). The sensor 12 is configured to be secured to the article ofmerchandise M, such as with a pressure-sensitive adhesive, fasteners,and/or bracket arms. The sensor 12 is electrically connected to thetether 14, such as with a connector or via hardwiring. One end of thetether 14 may be electrically connected to the base 16, while theopposite end of the tether may be electrically connected to the sensor12. The tether 14 and/or base 16 may be electrically connected to orotherwise in electrical communication with a controller 20, as explainedin further detail below. In some embodiments, the tether 14 iselectrically connected to a recoiler to allow the tether to extend andretract relative thereto. The recoiler may in turn be electricallyconnected to the controller 20. In other embodiments, the tether 14 iselastic or otherwise extendable and retractable relative to the base 16.Although four security devices are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, it isunderstood that the controller 20 may be configured to communicate withany number of security devices, including one or more. Moreover, in someembodiments, one or more controllers 20 may be employed. In someembodiments, the controller 20 and the security devices 40 areindependent of one another such that the controller may be positionedremotely from the security devices (e.g., under the display counter).

The base 16 is configured to removably support the sensor 12 thereonsuch that the sensor and article of merchandise M may be removed fromthe base for inspection and returned to the base. The base 16 may definean opening therethrough that allows the tether 14 to extend and retractrelative to the base. It is understood that although a tetheredembodiment is shown, it is understood that “tetherless” embodiments mayalso be utilized such as where the base 16 and the sensor 12 communicatewirelessly. For example, the base 16 and the sensor 12 may be configuredto communicate wirelessly in order to ensure that the article ofmerchandise M is maintained within a predetermined location or distancerelative to the base. In other embodiments, the article of merchandise Mmay be configured to be removably supported directly on the base 16 suchthat the sensor 12 may be integrated into the article. Example ofwireless technology are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,878,673 and9,437,088, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference intheir entirety herein.

In some embodiments, the sensor 12 and/or base 16 may include alarmingcircuitry 18 or the like that is configured to determine whether varioussecurity events have occurred for generating a security signal, such asan audible and/or a visual alarm or signal (see, e.g., FIG. 2). Thesensor 12 and/or base 16 may also include an alarm 22 (e.g., apiezoelectric device) that is configured to generate an audible alarm orsignal. In some cases, the sensor 12 and/or base 16 may include a visualindicator (e.g., an LED) for emitting a visual signal when the alarmingcircuitry 18 is armed and/or alarming. Moreover, the sensor 12 and/orbase 16 may include a transfer port 25 that is configured to communicatewith a key for arming and/or disarming the alarming circuitry 18 (see,e.g., FIG. 1). In one embodiment, the transfer port 25 is configured tocommunicate wirelessly with a key in order to determine whether the keyis authorized to arm and/or disarm the alarming circuitry 18. Accordingto some embodiments, the key is similar to that described in U.S. Pat.No. 7,737,845, the contents of which are hereby incorporated byreference in their entirety herein. According to one embodiment, thesensor 12 may include a pressure switch or the like that is configuredto detect when the article of merchandise M has been removed from thesensor. The alarming circuitry 18 may be configured to detect theremoval of the article of merchandise M and/or cutting of the tether 14and generate a security signal (e.g., an audible and/or a visual alarm)in response thereto.

The controller 20 may include a processor 24, CPU, or the like that isconfigured to facilitate communication with each of the security devices40, both individually and collectively. For example, the controller 20may be a digital interface box (“DIB”) or a power interface box (“PIB”)in some embodiments. The controller 20 may include communicationscircuitry 26 that is configured to transmit and receive signals and datafrom each of the security devices 40 and/or articles of merchandise M.The controller 20 may also include a memory 28 for storing various dataregarding each of the security devices 40 and/or articles of merchandiseM, as explained in further detail below. In one embodiment, thecontroller 20 is electrically connected to each of the security devices40 via “wired” means, such as one or more electrical conductors 42. Thecontroller 20 may be configured to transmit power to each of thesecurity devices 40 and the articles of merchandise M via the electricalconductors 42. In other embodiments, the controller 20 and the securitydevices 40 may be configured to communicate with one another wirelessly.In order to provide power to the security devices 40, the securitydevices may utilize wireless power functionality, such as electricalcontact or inductive charging technology. In addition, the controller 20may be configured to transmit and/or regulate the voltage provided toeach of the security devices 40 and/or articles of merchandise M. Forexample, the controller 20 may be in electrical communication with aninput power source 46 and configured to transmit power at theappropriate voltage to each of the security devices 40 and the articlesof merchandise M. Furthermore, it is understood that although the base16 and controller 20 may be separate components in some embodiments, thebase and controller may be integrated as a single component in otherembodiments. For instance, the controller 20 may be housed in the base16, and each base may include a respective controller.

In some embodiments, the controller 20 is configured to obtain data fromthe articles of merchandise M. For example, the data may be stored in amemory of the article of merchandise M, and the controller 20 may obtainat least a portion of the stored data. In some cases, the article ofmerchandise M may transmit the data from its internal memory to a sensor12, controller 20, or any other desired device. The same controller 20can communicate with the security devices 40 and the articles ofmerchandise, although it is understood that more than one controllercould be employed, with separate controllers communicating with thesecurity devices and articles of merchandise. The controller 20 may beconfigured to obtain the data directly or indirectly from the articlesof merchandise. For example, each sensor 12 may be configured tocommunicate with a respective article of merchandise attached thereto toobtain data and subsequently communicate the data to the controller 20.In other embodiments, the controller 20 may receive the data directlyfrom the articles of merchandise M. In some cases, the data is the typeof article of merchandise M attached to a sensor 12 (e.g., amanufacturer and model of an article of merchandise). The type ofarticle of merchandise M may allow the controller 20 to determine thepower requirements of the specific type of article prior to sendingpower to the device. It is understood that various types of data andinformation may be obtained from the article of merchandise such as, forexample, the number of “pulls” or “pickups” of a particular article ofmerchandise relative to the base, the type of article, the location ofthe article, the power status of the article, retail store informationand location, the occurrence and time of a power loss to the securitydevice, a key ID, number and time of interactions with a key, etc. Thus,the controller 20 may obtain data periodically or in real time, or auser could use a remote device 30 to request information regarding aspecific article(s) of merchandise M by communicating with thecontroller 20. Additional examples of types of data that may becollected in response to interaction with the article of merchandise maybe found, for example, in U.S. application Ser. No. 13/856,664, entitledMerchandise User Tracking System and Method, and InternationalApplication No. PCT/US2016/017483, entitled Systems and Methods forAcquiring Data from Articles of Merchandise on Display, the contents ofwhich are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety herein.

In some embodiments, the controller 20 and/or security device 40 may beconfigured to communicate with a remote device 30, such as a retailer'slaptop, tablet, or other electronic device through a cloud network 80.In one example, the remote device 30 may be a retailer's electronicdevice for managing various data received from one or more controllers20 and/or security devices 40. In one particular embodiment, a pluralityof controllers 20 and/or security devices 40 are configured tocommunicate with one or more retailer's electronic devices over thenetwork 80. For instance, the cloud network 80 may facilitatecommunication with a plurality of tablet devices used by salesassociates within a retail environment. Communication over the network80 may occur wirelessly. It is understood that the remote device 30,security device 40, and the controller 20 may communicate with anydesired means, such as cellular networks, Wi-Fi, radiofrequency,Bluetooth communication, and the like. The controller 20, securitydevice, and/or the remote device 30 may include communications circuitryor a transceiver that is configured to facilitate such communicationwith one another. One or more gateways and/or nodes may be used tofacilitate communication between the controller 20, security device 40,and the retailer's electronic device(s). For instance, a gateway (e.g.,a router) between the controller 20 and the cloud network 80 may beconfigured to facilitate communication with a retailer's gateway and maybe configured to allow the retailer to provide and receive data from thesystem 10. The retailer may be able to direct various commands via thecloud network 80 such as, for example, ensuring planogram compliance andtracking system usage. In some embodiments, such commands could includerequesting data from the controller 20, powering up or down one or morearticles of merchandise M, performing a roll call of one or morearticles of merchandise (either at a particular time or after analarming event), determining a location of an alarming security device40, identifying a specific key that armed/disarmed/locked/unlocked aparticular security device, remotely enabling or disabling an article ofmerchandise, remotely locking down an article of merchandise, checkingthe power status of an article of merchandise, tracking usage of anarticle of merchandise, tracking one or more article of merchandise(e.g., via serial number or other ID), assigning particular keys toauthorized users, and/or directing a camera to record the location of analarming security device. As such, a retailer may be able to moreeffectively manage any number of features regarding one or more securitydevices 40.

In one embodiment, the security system 20 may utilize light-basedtechnology (e.g., Visible Light Communication (VLC)) to determinevarious types of information regarding a security device 40 and/orarticle of merchandise M. For instance, the security device 40 and/orarticle of merchandise M may include an illumination source 44, such asan LED, that is configured to generate a uniquely coded light signalthat may be used to provide various types of information and data and/orto determine the location of a particular illumination source 44 that isat a known location. The illumination source 44 may be configured tocommunicate with a computing device 48 that is configured to detect theuniquely coded light signals generated by the illumination source. Forinstance, the computing device 48 may include a camera for detectingsuch coded light signals. The coded light signals may be generated viaactivation of the illumination source 44 in a predetermined sequence orpattern. In some cases, the coded light signals may be indicative ofspecific information or data associated with the security device 40and/or the article of merchandise, such as the types of informationdiscussed above (e.g., a serial number of the article of merchandise).The computing device 48 may include a software application forfacilitating communication with its camera and interpreting the lightsignals. Using the coded light signals, the computing device 48 may beconfigured to correlate the information or data with the security device40 and/or the article of merchandise based on a known location of thesecurity device and/or article of merchandise. For example, if aplanogram indicates a particular location of a security device 40, thesecurity device may be configured to communicate a light signal withinformation or data regarding the security device or associated articleof merchandise. In other embodiments, the security device 40 and/or thearticle of merchandise M may be configured to communicate light signalsindicative of its location. One or more computing devices 48 may beconfigured to communicate with one or more security devices 40, articlesof merchandise M, controllers 20, and/or remote devices 30, such as viathe cloud network 80, wired communications, and/or wirelesscommunications. Thus, the security devices 40 and/or articles ofmerchandise M may be configured to communicate directly with thecomputing devices 48 in some embodiments. The computing device 48 may beconfigured to focus on, or block out, particular regions or zones thatinclude security devices 40 and/or articles of merchandise M. In somecases, the computing device 48 may be configured to detect a particularQR code that may be associated with a security device 40 and/or anarticle of merchandise M. In this regard, the computing device 48 may beconfigured to detect the QR code and correlate the QR code with aparticular security device 40 and/or article of merchandise M at a knownlocation. Therefore, in some embodiments, VLC technology may be used toobtain various information regarding the security devices 40 and/orarticles of merchandise M. It is understood that the computing devicemay include an illumination source for communicating various types ofinformation to the security device 40 and/or the article of merchandiseM in a similar manner. For instance, the article of merchandise M mayinclude a camera for detecting light signals. Furthermore, it isunderstood that light signals may be used in combination with theembodiments discussed above such that various types of data andinformation may be obtained and correlated to specific locations. Inother embodiments, light signals may be used to update a price labelassociated with an article of merchandise, such as be transmission ofcoded light signals to the security device 40 and/or the article ofmerchandise.

In another embodiment, the security device 40 and/or the article ofmerchandise M may be configured to capture an image for obtainingvarious data or information regarding the security device and/or thearticle of merchandise. For example, the article of merchandise M maycapture an image and store the image including various information anddata that can be extracted to identify the article of merchandise. Inone embodiment, meta data may be embedded in the image file which can beremotely extracted, such as via the controller 20 and/or the remotedevice 30, to determine a make and model number of the article ofmerchandise M. In some cases, the article of merchandise M may recordthe image using technology such as an Eye-Fi memory card that isconfigured to sync automatically with certain devices image library,which may be used to obtain meta data embedded in the image (e.g., EXIFinformation).

In some embodiments, the image captured also contains data indicatingthe location of the article of merchandise taking the image. Forexample, a position of an article of merchandise M (e.g., a DSLR camera)may involve an initial setup whereby an associate takes a photograph ofthe position, security device 40, stand, or placard. The position,security device 40, stand, or placard may have a small QR code or otherartifact with data regarding physical position/location. In anotherexample, this may be a code on a price label wherein the location datacan be used to automatically confirm that the correct article ofmerchandise is located behind or near its associated price tag. Thecaptured image with the associated location data may be used inconjunction with data identifying the article of merchandise (e.g., metadata) to confirm whether the article of merchandise is in its correctlocation.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will bereadily apparent to one skilled in the art having the benefit of theteachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associateddrawings. Therefore, it is understood and appreciated that the inventionis not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, andthat modifications to the disclosed embodiments and other undisclosedembodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appendedclaims.

1. A merchandise security system comprising: a plurality of securitydevices, each of the security devices configured to be attached to anarticle of merchandise, each of the security devices comprising anillumination source for generating a light signal; and at least onecomputing device configured to communicate with the illumination sourcesin order to obtain data from the security devices and/or the articles ofmerchandise, wherein each of the security devices is configured togenerate a security signal in response to removal of the article ofmerchandise from the security device.
 2. The merchandise security systemof claim 1, wherein the data comprises a make or model number of thearticle of merchandise.
 3. The merchandise security system of claim 1,wherein each of the security devices is configured to transfer data froma respective article of merchandise attached thereto.
 4. The merchandisesecurity system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of security devicescomprises alarming circuitry for generating an audible and/or a visualsignal in response to removal of the article of merchandise from thesecurity device.
 5. The merchandise security system of claim 1, furthercomprising at least one controller configured to communicate with eachof the security devices for obtaining the data.
 6. The merchandisesecurity system of claim 4, wherein the at least one controller isconfigured to wirelessly communicate with a remote device for providingthe data obtained from the articles of merchandise.
 7. (canceled)
 8. Themerchandise security system of claim 4, wherein the at least onecontroller is configured to communicate with a memory of each of thearticles of merchandise in order to obtain data from the articles ofmerchandise.
 9. The merchandise security system of claim 1, wherein eachillumination source is configured to generate the light signal in apattern or sequence that is indicative of the data.
 10. The merchandisesecurity system of claim 1, wherein each illumination source and thecomputing device are configured to communicate via visible lightcommunication (VLC).
 11. The merchandise security system of claim 1,wherein the computing device comprises a camera for detecting the lightsignal.
 12. The merchandise security system of claim 1, wherein thesecurity device and/or the article of merchandise is configured tocommunicate a light signal indicative of its location.
 13. A method fordisplaying and securing articles of merchandise, the method comprising:generating a light signal with an illumination source associated with asecurity device and/or an article of merchandise, the security devicesconfigured to be attached to the article of merchandise; detecting thelight signal with a computing device; obtaining data from the securitydevice and/or the article of merchandise based on the light signal; andgenerating a security signal in response to removal of the article ofmerchandise from the security device.
 14. The method of claim 13,further comprising providing the data over a wireless network.
 15. Themethod of claim 13, wherein obtaining comprises obtaining a make ormodel number of each of the articles of merchandise.
 16. The method ofclaim 13, further comprising wirelessly communicating with a remotedevice for providing the data obtained from the articles of merchandise.17. The method of claim 13, further comprising determining a location ofthe security device and/or the article of merchandise based on the lightsignal.
 18. A merchandise security system comprising: at least onesecurity device configured to be attached to an article of merchandise;an illumination source associated with the at least one security deviceand/or the article of merchandise, the illumination source configured togenerate a light signal; and at least one computing device configured tocommunicate with the illumination source in order to obtain data fromthe at least one security device and/or the article of merchandise,wherein the at least one security device is configured to generate asecurity signal in response to removal of the article of merchandisefrom the security device.
 19. The merchandise security system of claim18, wherein the data comprises a make or model number of the article ofmerchandise.
 20. The merchandise security system of claim 18, whereineach illumination source is configured to generate the light signal in apattern or sequence that is indicative of the data.
 21. The merchandisesecurity system of claim 18, wherein the at least one security device isconfigured to wirelessly communicate with a remote device for providingthe data obtained from the articles of merchandise. 22-28. (canceled)